New Ulm weekly review., 1887-02-23
ABATTI4EaAB1(1agt4T ANTS.

-: -;
! a BATTLEsAB1 tlsTIIE ANTS.
4 4 Hysres Fight Ssar PhlladsipAla-Th Ca1tivss
Hads Slaves.
1 From the Philadelphia Ledger.
| In the summer, 9 year ago,a swarm
Of black ants (Forn,ica Pennsylvani-
ca built their nests betweeen the cell
ing and the roof of a shed near our
!. dwelling inthe suburbs of Philadelphia.
4 At distance of q few hundred feet
from the shed second colony OF the
same species had also built home in
Ia sheltered place. Both nests were
unusually populous.
Battles between ants of different
species. fought for the purpose Of cap
turing slaves have been often des cribed.
But on bright morning in August I
was witness of q fight between these
two colonies OF the same species, which
could have been waged for no such
purpose, and which gave the occasion
for a greater display of fforethought
is usually conceded even to the ant.
The nest in the roof was the one at
tackled. The only approach to it
from the ground was by a post and
/ plastered wall about six feet high A
smooth plank floor fitted closely
against the wall and post and was
raised above the ground by low
step. This floor was the scene OF the
! conflict.
In all my repeated study of these
nests and their inhabitents during
the summer months the small work
ers were the only ones who seemed to
labor. They did all the foraging and
it was unusual to see one of the larger
workers outside OF the entrance
OF the nest, which however,
they faithfully guarded. The con
/ duct OF the latter so much more close
| ly agreed with that of the soldier ants
OF kindred species that in speaking of
them in this paper l shall call them
soldiers and, so far as could be seen,
did nothing else.
/ When i saw them on the morning
OF the battle both the small
workers and the large ones or sold
iers, were out on the wall post, and
floor ingreat numbers. There was no
fight then going on. A strong force OF
soldiers held every approach at the
loot OF the post and wall, smaller
bodies were, formed in regular lines
half way UP the post, and large out
standing groups were stationed at
close distances here and there upon
the floor and step, and running up
and down the post supporting the
nest
While stood wondering at the un-
usual commotion saw at the dis.
tance of a few feet host OF small
workers, closely followed by great
horde Of soldiers, streaming along a
fence from the other distant nest.
They must have mum bered thousands.
In a very short time these hostile
workers descended the fence to the
ground, swarmed up the step to the
door, and poured in crowds upon the
defensive scouts. The antagonists
rushed upon each other, and with
their strong jaws cut off here leg and
there an antenna, and sometimes sew
| cred the body ofan opponent at blow.
The foremost soldiers of the defensive
party came to the rescue, and the
swarm of hostile workers was driven
1 back toward the step.
4 But by this time the soldiers OF the
attacking party had reached the floor,
moving deliberately onward in a
dense, black mass, crushing their
smaller foes as they advanced. In
few moments the small workers were
either all killed or retired from the
front. Then, the battle between the
soldiers OF the opposing forces began
IN earnest. Haltlng a moment till
their ranks were close and compact,
though by no means regular, the in
vaders advanced to the attack in a
dense mass seeming to completely
cover the floor over which they
moved. Inthis close array they met
the defenders, whom they greatly out
numbered. They were received, how
ever, with encourage as great as their
own, and their ranks were quickly
broken up and Thrown into apparent
disorder.
After the general charge had been
thus made and the combatants were
mixed up, in, an undistinguishable
crowd, single champions were seen
rushing aroundI the floor seeking a
foe. When. two Of these champions
4 approached: each other mutual
examination, with the ends OF their
antanno rau, seAorno1 ronocS